Improved mode of arranging arch-boards for cistern-arches



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVY CROSBY AND SETH E. CROSBY, OF GUSTAVUS, OHIO.

I'MPROVED MODE 0F ARRANGING ARCH-BOARDS FOR CISTERN-ARCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I 1,265, dated July 11, 1854.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we, HAEVY CROSBY and SETH E. CEosEY, of Gustavus, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Arch-Boards used in the Construction of Gistcrn-Arches; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of our invention consists in constructing an arch-board upon which to lay the brick or stone of a cistern-arch, this archboard being composed of angular curved segments or sections of such size that they can be drawn through the throat of the cistern when the arch is completed, being doweled and hooked together in such a manner that they are readily put together in place over the cistern, and readily taken apart when the arch is completed, and being so constructed that when hooked together in place upon the shoulder or shelf that surrounds the cistern pit or hole they will-remain in place and be sufficiently strong to bear the weight of the brick or stone. The arch is also so constructed as to be readily adapted to cisterns ot' various sizes byleaving out one, two, or more sections, according to the size of the cistern.

Figure l is a top View of the exterior of the arch-board in place. Fig. 2 is a View of the same from the interior. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the arch-board in thedirection of the lines m rv, Figs. 1 and 2, with the curb in place. Fig. 4 represents thc curb.

Like letters refer to like parts in the different views.

A represents the segments or sections of the arch-board.

B and B', Figs. 2 and 3, are cleats which are secured to the segments and in which are the dowels, hooks, and staples for securing the segments together, and which also serve to `strengthen the arch-board; C, the dowels; D,

the hooks and staples; E, the curb. Two of the segments A and A, Fig. 2, are not doweled, except upon one side.

The cistern-hole being prepared, the segment A', Fig. 2, is placed in the required po- Sition upon the shelf or shoulder F, as shown by the red lines in Fig. 3. Another of the segments A is then placed beside the last one, and its dowels slipped into corresponding holes in the segmentAand the two segments hooked together. Another of the segments A is then placed beside the last one, and so on, A being last in order. The connecting sides of the first and last segments fitted are not doweled together, so that they can be readily put together and taken apart. The segments are numbered, so that they may be put in place in their proper order. When the arch-board is put together, the curb E, Fig. 4, is placed upon the throat or top of the board G, and the brick or stone then laid upon the arch-board from the base to the throat and close around the curb. The arch being completed, a ladder may be placed in the cistern th rough the curb,

and a person descending to the required posi= tion can then unhook the undoweled sides of the segments A and A", and, having taken out one of them, can then unhook and take out the remaining segments with ease and facility.

The old process of constructi ng cistern-arches is to first make a covering of rough boards over the hole or pit, and then to pile on billets of wood or other material to form the shape of the arch, and then to cover the wood overV with sand or other like substance to make it even and smooth. The brick or stone is then laid on, and when the arch is completed the billets of Wood and sand and a part of the boards have to be taken out by the hands from the outside, which is a slow and laborious operation. Apart of the sand or other substance used falls into the cistern and must be taken out.

By the use of this improved arch-board an arch for a cistern or other circular hole may be constructed with half the labor and in half the time expended in building an arch in the ordinary way. The durability of this archboard, the cheapness of its construction, and

y its adaptability to cisterns of various sizes are also great advantages.

We are aware that wooden arches upon which to lay brick or stone have been applied to various purposes in architecture; but they were not composed of angular curved segments or sections arranged in the manner herein set forth, to be hooked and doweled together, so

that they could be readily put together and sections secured together by hooks and dowels taken apart and preserved, so as to be used or their equivalents, arranged in the manner again, and so as to be adaptable to the builddescribed. This arch-board We claim in its ing of arches of Various sizes by the leaving application to the purpose specified. out of one, two, or more sections; neither were they applied t0 the purposes herein described. What We claim as our improvement, and desire' to secure by Letters Patent, is Vitnesses:

The construction, with an arch-board, of a BUELL BARNES, combination of angular curved segments or S. H. ST. JOHN. 

